Thrombosis and embolism
A thrombus is a blood clot that forms within the cardiovascular system during life; an embolus is material traveling through the circulation that may lodge downstream.
Open interactive lesson & self-check ↗Virchow triad: contributors to thrombosis
Original conceptual SVG · scalableThree interacting contributors. This is not a coagulation-factor pathway, or a patient risk score.
Virchow triad
Endothelial injury or dysfunction, altered blood flow and increased coagulability are three broad contributors to thrombosis.
Thrombus and embolus differ
A thrombus forms in situ; part of it may detach and travel as a thromboembolus. Other embolic materials exist, but are less common.
Clinical correlation
Location determines potential consequences, ranging from tissue ischemia to obstruction of pulmonary blood flow. Assessment and management are context-dependent.
Reference and next reading
Explore the original curriculum and publisher-hosted resources for full-depth reading; this note is an original schematic introduction, not an exhaustive chapter.